9.

Commas

In this chapter, we'll go over all the rules you need to know for each punctuation mark and
give you examples and exercises that cover the full range of ways they can be tested. Just so
we're on the same page, we'll first review the semicolon (covered in the Run-ons chapter).

The Semicolon

A semicolon is used to join two independent clauses.

Examples:

 I love the game of basketball; however, I don't play it myself.

 The tribe was left without food for weeks; the members had no choice but to resort
to cannibalism.
 Bats are nocturnal creatures; they come out only during the night.
Anytime a semicolon isn't being used for this purpose, it's incorrect. The SAT loves to use
semicolons to do dirty things they're not supposed to:

Example 1

Wrong: The platter was filled with berries, crackers; and cheese.

Correct: The platter was filled with berries, crackers, and cheese.

Example 2

Wrong: Ready for the journey of a lifetime; the boy hopped on the spaceship.

Correct: Ready for the journey of a lifetime, the boy hopped on the spaceship.
 The Comma

Of all the punctuation marks, the comma has the most uses. We'll only go through the ones
that are tested.

Example 3

Wrong: Although he is lactose intolerant he likes to eat pizza for lunch.

Correct: Although he is lactose intolerant, he likes to eat pizza for lunch.

1. Use a comma after an introductory clause, phrase, or modifier.

Example 4

Wrong: Trapped in a mine the victims found it hard to see and breathe.

Wrong: Trapped in a mine, the victims found it hard to see and breathe.

Example 5

Wrong: At the end of the rainbow we saw a bowl of Lucky Charms cereal.

Correct: At the end of the rainbow, we saw a bowl of Lucky Charms cereal.

Example 6

Wrong: When I turn 16 I'm going to buy a car.

Correct: When I turn 16, I'm going to buy a car.

Example 7

Wrong: Because she's been so busy I haven't seen her in a month.

Correct: Because she's been so busy, I haven't seen her in a month.

 2. Use commas to separate three or more items in a series.

Example 8

Wrong: His hobbies included jumping off planes, crashing helicopters and eating jellyfish.

Correct: His hobbies included jumping off planes, crashing helicopters, and eating jellyfish.

Example 9

Wrong: After college, James had three options: get a job, apply to graduate school or become a
criminal.

Correct: After college, James had three options: get a job, apply to graduate school, or become a
criminal.

The comma between the last two items is sometimes called the serial or Oxford comma.
Although some style guides make it optional, most require it. On the SAT, the Oxford
comma is required.

3. Use commas to set off nonrestrictive/nonessential elements.

I will elaborate on the terms nonrestrictive and nonessential after a few examples, but just

keep in mind they mean the same thing.

Example 10

Wrong: Great white sharks the most fearsome creatures of the sea are actually less dangerous
than they appear.

Correct: Great white sharks, the most fearsome creatures of the sea, are actually less dangerous
than they appear.

The phrase the most fearsome creatures of the sea is nonessential because it just adds

additional description to the sentence. If we take it out, what's left is still a sentence that
makes sense grammatically. This is the first part to understanding nonessential elements.
The following examples illustrate the second part.
Example 11

Wrong: The guy, cleaning the room, is the janitor.

Correct: The guy cleaning the room is the janitor.

The phrase cleaning the room is an essential element because it specifies which guy. In

other words, there are multiple guys in the room, and we need a restrictive phrase to limit
the scope of who or what we're talking about.

The best method of determining whether something is restrictive or non-restrictive is to ask

yourself this question: Does the phrase narrow down what we're talking about?

Example 12

Wrong: Students, who work hard, will ace the SATs.

Correct: Students who work hard will ace the SATs.

If yes, the phrase is essential and SHOULD NOT be set off by commas. If no, the phrase is
not essential and SHOULD be set off by commas. Take, for instance, the following two
examples:

Example 13

Wrong: Jonathan who works hard will ace the SATs.

Correct: Jonathan, who works hard, will ace the SATs.

In Example 12, the phrase who work hard narrows down the scope of who we're talking
about. Otherwise, the sentence would be talking about ALL students. It's only the students
who work hard who will ace the SATs.
 Example 14

Wrong: Stephen King's first novel Carrie was a surprise success.

Correct: Stephen King's first novel, Carrie, was a surprise success.

In Example 13, the phrase who works hard does NOT narrow down who we're talking about.
We already know it's just one person—Jonathan—and he happens to work hard.

Example 15

Wrong: The poem, The Road Not Taken, is one of Robert Frost's most famous works.

Correct: The poem The Road Not Taken is one of Robert Frost's most famous works.

In Example 15, the title of the poem is an essential element because it narrows down which
poem is being referred to. If you took out the title, the sentence would lose its meaning. In
Example 14, Carrie is nonessential because Stephen King's first novel already designates
which book it is and doesn't narrow anything down further. In other words, Stephen King's
first novel was already enough to get us down to one book. Yes, Carrie is an important piece
of information, but that's not relevant when deciding what is essential vs. nonessential.

The SAT loves to test this concept with people's occupations:

Example 16

Wrong: Crowds stood in line to see author, J.K. Rowling, at the bookstore in London.

Correct: Crowds stood in line to see author J.K. Rowling at the bookstore in London.

Example 17

Wrong: The man at the front of the line scientist, John Willard, wouldn't stop complaining about
the rain.

Correct: The man at the front of the line, scientist John Willard, wouldn't stop complaining about
the rain.

J.K. Rowling narrows down what author we're talking about.

 John Willard is essential to scientist, so there shouldn't be a comma between them.
However, the phrase scientist John Williard is nonessential to man at the front of the
line because it doesn't narrow down who we're talking about any further. Therefore, the
phrase as a whole should be set off by commas.

If that was a lot to take in, take a deep breath and review this section until you truly
understand essential vs. nonessential elements. Because if you do, you'll fly through
questions that most other students get stuck on.

Moving on, when the word that is used, it's always for restrictive/essential elements
(commas are unnecessary) whereas which is usually used for nonrestrictive/nonessential
elements (commas are necessary).

Example 18

Wrong: Runners around the world participate in the Boston Marathon which is 26 miles long.

Correct: Runners around the world participate in the Boston Marathon, which is 26 miles long.

Example 19

Wrong: The path, that we took yesterday, is 15 miles long.

Correct: The path that we took yesterday is 15 miles long.

Example 20

Wrong: Next to the Japanese restaurant, I like, is the ice cream place.

Correct: Next to the Japanese restaurant I like is the ice cream place.
 Example 21

Wrong: Lions are carnivorous or meat-eating mammals.

Correct: Lions are carnivorous, or meat-eating, mammals.

The essential phrase I like is just the shortened version of that I like. The word that is
sometimes omitted.

Phrases that help define a previous term in this manner are nonessential.
 4. Use commas to set off transitions and intervening phrases.

This rule piggybacks off the previous one since most transitions and intervening phrases are
nonessential to the sentences they're in, but more examples never hurt anyone.

Example 22

Wrong: Some animals are nocturnal; for example the coyote hunts during the night.

Correct: Some animals are nocturnal; for example, the coyote hunts during the night.

Example 23

Wrong: When I told my parents I was pregnant, they were to my relief supportive and
understanding.

Correct: When I told my parents I was pregnant, they were, to my relief, supportive and
understanding.

Example 24

Wrong: Penguins unlike most other birds cannot fly.

Correct: Penguins, unlike most other birds, cannot fly.

Example 25

Wrong: Most bats are blind. Their sense of hearing however is amazing.

Correct: Most bats are blind. Their sense of hearing, however, is amazing.
Additional Comma Uses and Misuses

Note: While the following rules may be tested on occasion, they are not a primary focus of
the test.

Commas should be used:

A. To Separate Items in a list

In any list of 3 or more items, each item must be followed by a comma. The comma before
and is optional. You will not be asked to choose between a version with the comma and a
version without the comma.
 Correct: The museum’s new open-storage display brings about 900
vintages World’s Fair souvenirs out of attics, desk drawers,
shoeboxes, and museum archives for visitors to view.
 Correct: The museum’s new open-storage display brings some 900
vintages World’s Fair souvenirs out of attics, desk drawers,
shoeboxes and museum archives for visitors to view.

No comma should ever be used after the word and.

 Incorrect: The museum’s new open-storage display brings some 900

vintages World’s Fair souvenirs out of attics, desk drawers,
shoeboxes, and, museum archives for visitors to view.
 Incorrect: The museum’s new open-storage display brings some 900
vintages World’s Fair souvenirs out of attics, desk drawers,
shoeboxes and, museum archives for visitors to view.

B. To Separate Adjectives Whose Order Could be Reversed.

When the order of adjectives does not matter, then a comma should be used. You can also
try placing the world and between the adjectives; if they can be separated that way, then
the comma is correct.
 Correct: One of the Queens Museum’s recent exhibits featured
works by contemporary artists from Japan, Taiwan, and Ireland,
offering patrons the chance to see a kind of innovative,
passionate art that larger museums often ignore.
 Correct: One of the Queens Museum’s recent exhibits featured
works by contemporary artists from Japan, Taiwan, and Ireland,
offering patrons the chance to see a kind of passionate,
innovative art that larger museums often ignore.
 Correct: One of the Queens Museum’s recent exhibits featured
works by contemporary artists from Japan, Taiwan, and Ireland,
 offering patrons the chance to see a kind of innovative and
passionate art that larger museums often ignore.

If the first adjective modifies the second adjective, or if the adjectives could not normally be
separated by the word and, no comma should be used:
 Incorrect: Columbian artist Maria Fernanda Cardoso often makes
use of colorful, plastic objects (or: colorful and plastic) in her
paintings and sculptures.
 Correct: Columbian artist Maria Fernanda Cardoso often makes use
of colorful plastic objects in her paintings and sculptures.

C. After a Close-Parenthesis Where a Comma Would Normally be Necessary

Because parentheses indicate non-essential material, the best way to approach parentheses
is to cross them out.
 Correct: The Tower of London was constructed as a prison in the
eleventh century (1078 to be exact), but over the centuries it has
been used as everything from an armory to a treasury.

If we eliminate the parentheses, we are left with two IC joined by a FANBOYS conjunction.
 Correct: The Tower of London was constructed as a prison in the
eleventh century (1078 to be exact), but over the centuries it has
been used as everything from an armory to a treasury.
No comma should be used before an open-parenthesis, however:
 Incorrect: The Tower of London was constructed as a prison in the
eleventh century, (1078 to be exact), but over the centuries it
has been used as everything from an armory to a treasury.

Two commas indicate non-essential information, but the parentheses already serve that
function. If we eliminate the parentheses, we get two commas next to one another – a
result that is never correct.
 Incorrect: The Tower of London was constructed as a prison in the
eleventh century,, but over the centuries it has been used as
everything from an armory to a treasury.
D. After Introductory Words and Phrases

Introductory words and phases (e.g. in fact, moreover, as a result) should be set off by
commas.
 Correct: At first, it looked as if the storm was going to muss us by a
few hundred miles.
 Correct: Nevertheless, Armstrong persisted and became an
extraordinary musician.

Note, however, that subordinating conjunctions such as although and because cannot be
used this way.
 Incorrect: Desserts were traditionally characterized by their
sweetness. Although, bakers are now creating ones that feature
intriguing blends of sweet and savory.
 Correct: Desserts were traditionally characterized by their
sweetness. However, bakers are now creating ones that feature
intriguing blends of sweet and savory.

Commas should NOT be used:

A. Before or After Prepositions

To review, prepositions are location and time words such as of, for, from, to, in, with, by,
before, and after. Do not use a comma before or after a preposition.

 Incorrect: Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage were two of the most
influential figure, in the history of computer science and
mathematics.
 Incorrect: Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage were two of the most
influential figure in, the history of computer science and
mathematics.
 Correct: Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage were two of the most
influential figure in the history of computer science and
mathematics.
The only exception to the rule occurs when a preposition is used to begin a non-essential
clause.

 Correct: Although Ada Lovelace lived nearly a century before the

first computer was built, she in a way that was unique among
nineteenth century mathematicians, predicted many of the
modern computer’s capabilities.

B. Between Adjectives and Nouns

This is particularly important rule when you are dealing with multiple adjectives or lists.
Although commas are required between the items of the list, no comma should be placed
between the final adjective and the noun.
 Incorrect: Headquartered in New York City, the National Academy of
Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) is a well-known national,
organization with local chapters in cities around the United States.
 Correct: Headquartered in New York City, the National Academy of
Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) is a well-known national
organization with local chapters in cities around the United States.

C. Before or after “That”

 Incorrect: Puzzle-solving, an ancient and universal practice, depends
on the kind of creative insight, that ignited the first campfires
thousands of years ago.
 Incorrect: Puzzle-solving, an ancient and universal practice, depends
on the kind of creative insight that, ignited the first campfires
thousands of years ago.
 Correct: Puzzle-solving, an ancient and universal practice, depends
on the kind of creative insight that ignited the first campfires
thousands of years ago.

D. Between Subjects and Verbs

Unless a subject and verb are separated by a non-essential clause, no comma should be
placed between them.
  Incorrect: Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, were two of the most
influential figures in the history of computer science and
mathematics.
 Correct: Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage were two of the most
influential figures in the history of computer science and
mathematics.

This rule holds even when subjects are extremely long and complex:
 Incorrect: What is particularly remarkable about Ada Lovelace’s
work on Babbage’s “analytical engine” is that she foresaw many of
the ways in which computers are used today.

Even though you may feel that a pause is necessary before the verb (and even though it is
acceptable to use one informally in order to break up long sentences), in strict grammatical
terms, no comma should be used.

E. Between Compound Nouns, Verbs, or Adjectives

When two or more nouns, verbs, or adjectives are joined by the word and, do not use a
comma.
The easiest way to approach this rule is as follows: because comma + and = period, plug in
a period in place of comma + and. Since there clearly will not be two full sentences, no
comma is needed.

Compound Subject
 Incorrect: Ada Lovelace, and Charles Babbage were two of the
most influential figures in the history of computer science and
mathematics.
 Plug in: Ada Lovelace. Charles Babbage were two of the most
influential figures in the history of computer science and
mathematics.
 Correct: Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage were two of the
most influential figures in the history of computer science and
mathematics.

Compound Object
 Incorrect: Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage were two of the most
important, and influential figures in the history of computer
science and mathematics.
 Plug in: Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage were two of the most
important. Influential figures in the history of computer science
and mathematics.
  Correct: Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage were two of the most
important and influential figures in the history of computer
science and mathematics.

F. Before or Around “Self” Words

“Self” words (technically known as emphatic pronouns) are used to emphasize that a
particular person or people is being referred to. Each object pronoun has an emphatic
counterpart.

 Me  Myself
 You  Yourself
 It  Itself
 One  Oneself
 Her/Him  Her/himself
 Us  Ourselves
 Them  Themselves

Although constructions containing these words may sound strange to you, there is nothing
inherently wrong with them. In fact, the only thing you need to know is that it is incorrect
to place a comma before them, or before and after them. For example:

 Incorrect: The tower of London, which lies within the Borough of

Tower Hamlets, is separated from the city, itself (or: city, itself,)
by a stretch of open space.
 Correct: The tower of London, which lies within the Borough of
Tower Hamlets, is separated from the city itself by a stretch of
open space.

In most cases, it is also incorrect to place a comma after an emphatic pronoun.

 Incorrect: The tower of London, which lies within the Borough of
Tower Hamlets, is separated from the city itself, by a stretch of
open space.

However, when a comma would normally be necessary (e.g. before a FANBOYS conjunction
or to set off a non-essential clause), it is acceptable to place a comma after an emphatic
pronoun.
  Correct: The tower of London is separated from the city itself, but
it is nevertheless one of London’s most popular tourist attractions.

In the sentence above, comma + but is used to separate two complete sentences. The first
sentence just happens to end with the world itself.